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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — If the Denver Broncos’ 2015 season goes the way he hopes, Peyton Manning will earn back every penny of the $4 million pay cut he took Thursday.
No. 18 made his return for an 18th NFL season official by passing his physical a day after agreeing to a revised contract that calls for him to make $15 million this season.
The new deal he signed after getting a clean bill of health includes incentives of $2 million each for winning the AFC title and the Super Bowl.
“Well, we’re excited it’s over and glad we can move on and glad Peyton’s going to be a part of this team and hopefully win a championship next year,” general manager John Elway told the team’s website. “I think this time of the offseason is always tough for everybody. And it’s a tough part of the business but it’s the time of year that we’ve got to put the best football team together that we possibly can.”
Manning, who left the team’s headquarters Thursday without speaking to the media, was non-committal about returning after the Broncos’ playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts. But he determined he still had the health and hunger to keep playing at age 39 for new coach Gary Kubiak.
Wilfork: Pats aren’t picking up my option
Defensive tackle Vince Wilfork said Thursday he will not be back with New England next season, ending an 11-year stay in which he won two Super Bowls and established himself as the cornerstone of the Patriots’ defense.
In a statement on Twitter, Wilfork said the team told him it would not be picking up his option for 2015, making him eligible for free agency.
“I’m in a good place,” Wilfork said. “I will take my time think things through take into consideration many things but mainly my family and see where life goes from there. … But regardless remember I will always remain a New Englander a Patriot forever.”
A 6-foot-2, 325-pound gap-stuffer who was drafted in the first round out of Miami in 2004, Wilfork helped the Patriots win the Super Bowl as a rookie and returned to the NFL title game twice more in losing efforts before helping the franchise win its fourth championship last month.
But he was due to receive a $4 million roster bonus by Monday and would have gotten $14 million over the next two seasons if it had been picked up. The money saved will help the Patriots bring back cornerback Darrelle Revis.
Palmer restructures contract
TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer says he has restructured his contract to help with the team’s salary cap status with the aim of making a good team better come the free agency period.
Palmer, recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL, says he “is doing great,” throwing the ball five days a week, and hopes to be ready for OTAs this summer.
Regardless, he says he will be “ready to rock ‘n’ roll” by training camp.
Palmer says “the sky’s the limit” for the Cardinals next season.
Veteran defensive tackle Dockett joins 49ers
SAN FRANCISCO — Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett notes on his Twitter page header that he will be “2016 comeback player of the year.”
It looks like he will get that chance. Dockett signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday that will keep him in the NFC West after playing all of his 10 NFL seasons with Arizona.
“I love you all. The ones that doubt, The ones that Love, The ones that hate, The ones who believe and don’t believe. (hashtag)inDOCKETTitrust,” he posted Thursday on Twitter with an emoji face.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed the contract Thursday morning for the three-time Pro Bowler, then the 49ers announced later in the day that Dockett had reached a deal.
Giants’ Donnell was on Delta plane that skidded off runway
Giants tight end Larry Donnell was one of the passengers on a Delta airplane that skidded off the runway at LaGuardia Airport on Thursday.
Donnell, 26, was en route to the team’s headquarters in New Jersey to sign the exclusive-rights free agent tender the Giants had placed on him the previous day.
“I’m blessed to be safe and sound after our plane skidded off the runway at LaGuardia airport today,” Donnell said in a statement through the Giants. “I feel fine physically and hopefully all the other passengers did not have any significant injuries. We were all shocked and alarmed when the plane started to skid, but most importantly, as far as I know, all of the passengers and flight crew were able to exit the plane safely.”
Donnell was somewhat less eloquent earlier in the day when he posted a video and a photograph of the crash scene on his Instagram account.